Winter storm damages Quidi Vidi Village, Outer Battery

The city's built heritage took a blow Friday night, as fierce waves destroyed wharves and sheds in the Outer Battery and Quidi Vidi.

By Saturday morning, there was a large raft of broken wood and the intact roof of a building floating in the harbour.

The city's built heritage took a blow Friday night, as fierce waves destroyed wharves and sheds in the Outer Battery and Quidi Vidi.

By Saturday morning, there was a large raft of broken wood and the intact roof of a building floating in the harbour.

Several buildings were teetering on the verge of collapse, after the storm ripped their structural foundation out from under them.

Around high tide midday Saturday, a three-storey shed broke and part of it fell into the harbour.

A lobster boat and other gear inside the shed was believed to be destroyed.

"It was heartbreaking. Myself and my wife were sitting up in the window and just watching these great big rollers come in," said Chris Brookes, a Battery resident.

"As we watched there was a shed just up the road; we saw one wave come in and just take it right up in the harbour, and a second wave just smashed it in half."

One of the buildings threatening to fall into the harbour was Jack Wells' Twine Shop, which Brookes called "the heart and soul of the Battery."

The Critch's Wharf - the large fishing wharf at the very edge of the Outer Battery - was completely obliterated, left as nothing but "matchsticks in the harbour."

It was the same story in Quidi Vidi, where waves came over the breakwater, and the storm surge was more than three metres above normal levels.

"I was down there at 11:30 and I couldn't do nothing with it ... the boat, the stage, everything," said Dick Gray, who owned the Gray and Sons building on the far side of Quidi Vidi Gut.

His boat was washed out to sea, and all that was left of his wharf was an outhouse floating in the water.

Environment Canada meteorologist Wanda Rideout said the storm had caused six-to-eight metre waves, as well as winds above 90 kilometres per hour.

The owners of the Quidi Vidi Brewery actually appeared to get lucky. The water came up over their wharf, and when they arrived to survey the damage, they found the brewery filled with smoke.

Firefighters found a small, smoldering fire in the warehouse, which they said was unrelated to the flooding.

Both the Battery and Quidi Vidi residents said they wanted to rebuild, but worried they wouldn't be able to.

"It was me, my brother and my dad; we built that way back in the '80s," Gray said. "There's a lot of sentimental value that's gone - and my dad is gone - a lot of his gear was down there, his tools and stuff. You can never replace that anyway."

An intense low pressure system that slowly tracked southeast of Newfoundland Thursday and Friday caused the blizzard conditions that brought high winds and heavy snowfall to the east coast, spreading west Friday and Friday night. Conditions gradually improved Saturday.

As of 4:30 a.m. Sunday, Environment Canada recorded 38 cm of snowfall at St. John's International Airport. The highest accumulation was in Bonavista where 53.7 cm had fallen. Gander had 45 cm, Terra Nova, 37.3 cm, Corner Brook, 10.8 cm, Argentia, 10.6 cm and St. Lawrence, 5.6 cm.

Early Sunday morning, wind gusts were still peaking at 128 km/h at Cape Race, while peak gusts in St. John's were reaching 76 km/h.

Down this way I don't do maintenance or paint my shed either. The neighbours don't mind my delapitated property because its part of our heritage. Its looking back in time. Its part of our culture and thats why folks visit here.
Why, one time, I even painted my name on the side of the shed so I could be on all the tourist pictures.

I just have to say people, do you realise how hypocritical it makes you look when you comment on how taxpayer is on here all the time commenting on stuff and being a jerk? How would you know all this person does is surf the net commenting on stuff on the Telegram all day if you werent on here reading the comments all day? I am in no way agreeing with the statements made by taxpayer here today, but if you are going to try and discount this persons remarks, find something else to comment about. Most of you immediately turn your comments into personal attacks about taxpayer, when this person in no way attacked you personally to begin with. Just some food for thought.

Good! Its about time this eyesore was taken down and the so-called residents made to pay for the cleanup. This area could be developed to make way for more offices, condiminums and hotels. Of course Shannie and Shelia -- a couple of treehugging mush heads, will wine about heritage. The taxpayers of this city want progress, not wolly headed idealism.

Total sickening/ heartbreaking sight part of our heritage and culture. Dear family member i am sure similar storms must have done such damage in the past. How long had current stages @ stores been there?

I think goverment provincial and municipal should foot the cost to have structures rebuilt where owners are interested. there have been stages/stores in the outer battery since the 1700's and vital to preserve a link to the past afterall our view of the narrows is decreasing everyday and soon there will be nothing in downtown that a tourist will want to visit to see.

I agree with Bea from Toronto.....
As a former resident of Newfoundland(my heart is still there)....Quidi Vidi Village is a beautiful place & when my husband & I returned home for a visit 2yrs ago(he is not a Newfie), he just loved that village...the rugged beauty & everything else about it & he also loved the beauty of all of Newfoundland(we visited what we could & where we could in the 2weeks we were home)....
God Bless the People of the Village & with hard work & determination, YOU WILL rise from the ashes & rebuild.

what. a. jerk.
Newfoundland prides itself it it's herritage, and we attract a lot of tourists because of this. No one wants to visit our small little inlets to see sky scrapers, or offices. They want to see how our life used to be before technology took it all away. A small piece of our culture was lost because of this storm and Taxpayer is rambling on like a fool about offices. Seriously don't you have anything better to do with your precious time? Are you not making sooooo much money and are you not sooo much better than everyone who cares? Why don't you go do something then that's soooo much more important that annoying people who actually have MORALS! FOOL!

Interesting to read all these comments. There were a couple of sensible suggestions but most of it appears to be from people who just like to be heard in a public forum. As a former resident of St. John's I personally love the eclectic, rugged beauty of the Battery and have admired the view both from the Scademia when taking visitors on a tour and on foot when my children wanted to walk through when they were little. It IS part of the St. John's heritage and the destruction is a shame. Perhaps the St. John's Heritage Foundation can help repair the damage and, perhaps rebuild these structures in a more secure way. I'm sorry for the heartache this has caused the people from the Battery.

Several people's only claim to fame on here is paying tax. But everyone pays tax, including people on EI. Even people who dodge taxes pay tax when they buy something. Calling yourself some variant name of taxpayer is like calling yourself some variant name of airbreather - everyone does it. But it sure makes those people look stupid day in and day out - lol.

Patrick, Some of those sheds have been around for over 60 years. I know for a fact our family shed is used on a daily bases. Our kids grew up around it. It is taken care of along with our wharf.. If damage is done by the storm our family rally's together to get it fixed up. The same way it did when they lost the house down there in 1959. Everyone worked together and it was put back up again. You can't put everyone in the same category to say that all are in a state of disrepair. I know that ours was never left to rot. It is painted every year, anything that needs to be fixed on this is done and the wharf is fixed back up again. For some of the elders left in the battery these sheds are their lives. It is just sad the way people think of it.

Right on taxpayer......Capitalism now and forever!Stupid libs sitting around, most on the government dole,harping on heritage.Well, guess what,you can't eat heritage.And every old falling down building seems to be a heritage site to the brain dead Duffs of the world!Get a grip.And old shed is just an old shed and albeit the people in the Battery lost these old sheds, it does not a disaster make.After all, they still have their lives and their homes.So, thank God for that and get on with life!How petty can one get!

I am from The Battery Area and I am sorry to say but the TRUTH is that the stages and structures along the shore line out here have been neglected and left to rot and fall down for many many years by the property owners themsleves. They were not safe to be around...nice to look at as apart of the OLD heritage of the Battery from the early 50's and 60's but this is 2010 people...let's get real. Now the owners and the nuts jobs at city hall are looking for handouts from the rest of us for repairs...give me a break. They were abused by the owners that's why they are in the ocean today...and left UNSAFE for many many years now...tear them down and let the grass grow...enough of the eye sore already! I need a New roof will city hall pay for that...I think Not...and I live in the so called heritage area too. It is what it is...neglected, worn, torn, gone...like most of the real Battery folks anyway!

I read the posts quite often and I have yet to see an intelligent post by Taxpayer or is positive in any way about anything. He/she must lead a very miserable life..... get a job? who would hire a person like this!

I was raised on The Battery in the '50's. In my day, both the Battery and the Gut were places no-one cared about. We were proud and tough and needed no defenders. My mother once threw a pail of water over a condescending tourist who dared to take her picture while she was at the tank. I so enjoy the great irony residing in all this fierce defense of the place.

As a matter a fact, I do work. Very hard and I do very well for myself. Plus I employ people to work for me -- I give them jobs. Unfortunately, I'm taxed to death with the likes of the business-bashing lot here, most of who are probably on welfare, drinking MY money away. Don't knock capitalism, Nathan Drake, if you work hard you earn hard -- Ask Danny Williams. And if this city wants to cling to the likes of Shanny Duff and Shelia O'Leary, and turn your backs on progress, then you deserve the live in this slum.

I think this is disgusting. I am from one of those family's in the Outer Battery that lost everything. My grandparents are from there. It is funny how you call it an eyesore when I bring friends down there from out of the province they can't get over the beauty of this wonderful little community. I have teenager childern that love to go down and visit and listen to their grandparents, aunts & uncles tell them how they made their living from the sea and how they survived many other tradgedy's such as the great snow slide on February 16, 1959. You obviously haven't taken a good look at this wonderful little place and you should be ashamed of yourself taxpayer.

Sorry Real Tax Payer, but you've got it wrong. In this Country, the more you get paid, (and therefore the more taxes you pay) the less work you are expected to do. So judging by the amount of time that Taxpayer spends on here, he probably pays more taxes than all of us combined. WooHoo for Capitalism!

If you work hard you earn hard? Sorry, but that is a far cry from being true, and is definitly not what capitalism is about. By that logic, people who dig ditches would earn the most money. Your definition of Hard Work must be very skewed. Capitalism is purely based upon being as greedy as possible and doing whatever you can to put yourself ahead of others. It is the reason why this world is as violent and hostile as it is.

Down this way I don't do maintenance or paint my shed either. The neighbours don't mind my delapitated property because its part of our heritage. Its looking back in time. Its part of our culture and thats why folks visit here.
Why, one time, I even painted my name on the side of the shed so I could be on all the tourist pictures.

I just have to say people, do you realise how hypocritical it makes you look when you comment on how taxpayer is on here all the time commenting on stuff and being a jerk? How would you know all this person does is surf the net commenting on stuff on the Telegram all day if you werent on here reading the comments all day? I am in no way agreeing with the statements made by taxpayer here today, but if you are going to try and discount this persons remarks, find something else to comment about. Most of you immediately turn your comments into personal attacks about taxpayer, when this person in no way attacked you personally to begin with. Just some food for thought.

Good! Its about time this eyesore was taken down and the so-called residents made to pay for the cleanup. This area could be developed to make way for more offices, condiminums and hotels. Of course Shannie and Shelia -- a couple of treehugging mush heads, will wine about heritage. The taxpayers of this city want progress, not wolly headed idealism.

Total sickening/ heartbreaking sight part of our heritage and culture. Dear family member i am sure similar storms must have done such damage in the past. How long had current stages @ stores been there?

I think goverment provincial and municipal should foot the cost to have structures rebuilt where owners are interested. there have been stages/stores in the outer battery since the 1700's and vital to preserve a link to the past afterall our view of the narrows is decreasing everyday and soon there will be nothing in downtown that a tourist will want to visit to see.

I agree with Bea from Toronto.....
As a former resident of Newfoundland(my heart is still there)....Quidi Vidi Village is a beautiful place & when my husband & I returned home for a visit 2yrs ago(he is not a Newfie), he just loved that village...the rugged beauty & everything else about it & he also loved the beauty of all of Newfoundland(we visited what we could & where we could in the 2weeks we were home)....
God Bless the People of the Village & with hard work & determination, YOU WILL rise from the ashes & rebuild.

what. a. jerk.
Newfoundland prides itself it it's herritage, and we attract a lot of tourists because of this. No one wants to visit our small little inlets to see sky scrapers, or offices. They want to see how our life used to be before technology took it all away. A small piece of our culture was lost because of this storm and Taxpayer is rambling on like a fool about offices. Seriously don't you have anything better to do with your precious time? Are you not making sooooo much money and are you not sooo much better than everyone who cares? Why don't you go do something then that's soooo much more important that annoying people who actually have MORALS! FOOL!

Interesting to read all these comments. There were a couple of sensible suggestions but most of it appears to be from people who just like to be heard in a public forum. As a former resident of St. John's I personally love the eclectic, rugged beauty of the Battery and have admired the view both from the Scademia when taking visitors on a tour and on foot when my children wanted to walk through when they were little. It IS part of the St. John's heritage and the destruction is a shame. Perhaps the St. John's Heritage Foundation can help repair the damage and, perhaps rebuild these structures in a more secure way. I'm sorry for the heartache this has caused the people from the Battery.

Several people's only claim to fame on here is paying tax. But everyone pays tax, including people on EI. Even people who dodge taxes pay tax when they buy something. Calling yourself some variant name of taxpayer is like calling yourself some variant name of airbreather - everyone does it. But it sure makes those people look stupid day in and day out - lol.

Patrick, Some of those sheds have been around for over 60 years. I know for a fact our family shed is used on a daily bases. Our kids grew up around it. It is taken care of along with our wharf.. If damage is done by the storm our family rally's together to get it fixed up. The same way it did when they lost the house down there in 1959. Everyone worked together and it was put back up again. You can't put everyone in the same category to say that all are in a state of disrepair. I know that ours was never left to rot. It is painted every year, anything that needs to be fixed on this is done and the wharf is fixed back up again. For some of the elders left in the battery these sheds are their lives. It is just sad the way people think of it.

Right on taxpayer......Capitalism now and forever!Stupid libs sitting around, most on the government dole,harping on heritage.Well, guess what,you can't eat heritage.And every old falling down building seems to be a heritage site to the brain dead Duffs of the world!Get a grip.And old shed is just an old shed and albeit the people in the Battery lost these old sheds, it does not a disaster make.After all, they still have their lives and their homes.So, thank God for that and get on with life!How petty can one get!

I am from The Battery Area and I am sorry to say but the TRUTH is that the stages and structures along the shore line out here have been neglected and left to rot and fall down for many many years by the property owners themsleves. They were not safe to be around...nice to look at as apart of the OLD heritage of the Battery from the early 50's and 60's but this is 2010 people...let's get real. Now the owners and the nuts jobs at city hall are looking for handouts from the rest of us for repairs...give me a break. They were abused by the owners that's why they are in the ocean today...and left UNSAFE for many many years now...tear them down and let the grass grow...enough of the eye sore already! I need a New roof will city hall pay for that...I think Not...and I live in the so called heritage area too. It is what it is...neglected, worn, torn, gone...like most of the real Battery folks anyway!

I read the posts quite often and I have yet to see an intelligent post by Taxpayer or is positive in any way about anything. He/she must lead a very miserable life..... get a job? who would hire a person like this!

I was raised on The Battery in the '50's. In my day, both the Battery and the Gut were places no-one cared about. We were proud and tough and needed no defenders. My mother once threw a pail of water over a condescending tourist who dared to take her picture while she was at the tank. I so enjoy the great irony residing in all this fierce defense of the place.

As a matter a fact, I do work. Very hard and I do very well for myself. Plus I employ people to work for me -- I give them jobs. Unfortunately, I'm taxed to death with the likes of the business-bashing lot here, most of who are probably on welfare, drinking MY money away. Don't knock capitalism, Nathan Drake, if you work hard you earn hard -- Ask Danny Williams. And if this city wants to cling to the likes of Shanny Duff and Shelia O'Leary, and turn your backs on progress, then you deserve the live in this slum.

I think this is disgusting. I am from one of those family's in the Outer Battery that lost everything. My grandparents are from there. It is funny how you call it an eyesore when I bring friends down there from out of the province they can't get over the beauty of this wonderful little community. I have teenager childern that love to go down and visit and listen to their grandparents, aunts & uncles tell them how they made their living from the sea and how they survived many other tradgedy's such as the great snow slide on February 16, 1959. You obviously haven't taken a good look at this wonderful little place and you should be ashamed of yourself taxpayer.

Sorry Real Tax Payer, but you've got it wrong. In this Country, the more you get paid, (and therefore the more taxes you pay) the less work you are expected to do. So judging by the amount of time that Taxpayer spends on here, he probably pays more taxes than all of us combined. WooHoo for Capitalism!

If you work hard you earn hard? Sorry, but that is a far cry from being true, and is definitly not what capitalism is about. By that logic, people who dig ditches would earn the most money. Your definition of Hard Work must be very skewed. Capitalism is purely based upon being as greedy as possible and doing whatever you can to put yourself ahead of others. It is the reason why this world is as violent and hostile as it is.